I will continue to ride my R100GS!

[ohiorider]

Maybe I'm losing a bit of lower body flexibility at 67 years old, but I will continue to put miles on my R100GS I've owned since 1991. The biggest issue isn't the height of the bike. It is light enough, and the center of gravity is low enough that I'm ok tip-toeing the bike at stops. I've done that for 19+ years. It's just that the very difficult get-off, though it has never dropped me, will get me one of these times. I'm 5'7" tall (or short), and have to (a) put left foot down, (b) hold front brake on, (c) balance the GS with left foot while swinging/sliding right leg over saddle and bags. Once both feet are firmly on the ground, it's easy to put the spring-loaded side stand in place.

I really need to think through how I could deploy the side stand while I'm in the saddle (if you have to ask why I can't do this, you (a) aren't short and, (b) haven't tried it on an R100GS).

I've considered some type of pull cable arrangement, or a lever which I could operate with my right foot that would deploy the side stand, while I lay the bike over onto the side stand with my left foot.

She is now showing 123,000 miles, and has never had the heads rebuilt, but still runs as strong as ever. I'm going to try to give her a break by spending more saddle time on my faithful 2003 Triumph Bonneville T100, and the recent addition, the Guzzi Sport 1200 (once I get different bars and footpegs ..... and Hepco Becker bags), but I still consider the old GS my standby when someone says 'lets go riding for a week.'

She is a wonderful old bike that is simply in need of a better way for me to deploy the side stand.

Removing the "Hitler's Revenge" spring isn't an option for me, unless there's an easy solution to installing a 'no start' switch if I forget and leave the sidestand down.

Any suggestions from some long-time R100GS riders? Other than selling the bike? Which isn't happening!

Bob

 

[osbornk]

I have as 74 year old friend who is 5'7" tall who has been a GS fanatic since the first R80GS was introduced. He has since had every new model as the engine size has increased. He was having more problems with the height of the GS as he aged and shrunk. A couple of years ago, he sold his GS1150 and bought a R1200RT because it was a good deal. It also gave him problems with height and he never warmed up to it. He was visiting a 89 year old friend last winter and rode his new R1200GS with low suspension and low seat. He loved it and bought one for himself a couple of weeks ago. Along with the lower riding position and lighter weight, he is thrilled. He said it put the fun back into riding.

I can't help you with your problem but you could solve it by selling several and buying one.

 

[mneblett]

Any suggestions from some long-time R100GS riders? Other than selling the bike? Which isn't happening!

I'm 5'7", 29-30" inseam. Also, my bike is an RT, not a GS. But, still offering a suggestion on the side stand:

The deployment tang on the RT stand is so poorly positioned that I cannot fully deploy the stand from the saddle. What I've ended up doing is pushing the stand down until its foot just touches the ground, sliding my boot toe down from the deployment tab along the stand stand to the stand foot -- all the while hold the stand foot in place to keep the stand from snapping back up -- and then once my left boot is in contact with the ground, rolling the bike backwards ~6" (while still holding the stand foot against the tarmac) until the bike reaches the stand stop (stand fully deployed).

I have no clue whether this will work with the GS! Nonethless, on the off-chance it does, I wanted to pass it on.

 

[guenner]

Have someone weld a small rod to your sidestand:

View attachment 23202

The side stand is some alloy mix. You also have to find the right position first. Too close to the pivot point it might be too hard to push it out and the cylinder might get in the way. And sure the right angle and length has to be found so it neither doesn't touch your left boot nor any part on the motorcycle.

You also may have to extend the arm so it doesn't lean over too much before it sets.

Happy welding!
Guenther

 

[bmwwrench]

I suggest adapting a Brown's stand. It'll be far easier to reach and won't spring back.

 

[ohiorider]

I'm 5'7", 29-30" inseam. Also, my bike is an RT, not a GS. But, still offering a suggestion on the side stand:

The deployment tang on the RT stand is so poorly positioned that I cannot fully deploy the stand from the saddle. What I've ended up doing is pushing the stand down until its foot just touches the ground, sliding my boot toe down from the deployment tab along the stand stand to the stand foot -- all the while hold the stand foot in place to keep the stand from snapping back up -- and then once my left boot is in contact with the ground, rolling the bike backwards ~6" (while still holding the stand foot against the tarmac) until the bike reaches the stand stop (stand fully deployed).

I have no clue whether this will work with the GS! Nonethless, on the off-chance it does, I wanted to pass it on.

I don't think that will work on the GS because of the additional height and waaaay forward location of the side stand, but I appreciate the suggestion. My dealer showed me his approach a while back, and it scared the bejezzus out of me. He deployed the stand with the bike in a full vertical position, then let the bike literally fall over on the side stand. Not for me!

Bob

 

[guenner]

Bob,

I understand your concerns with letting the mc "fall" on the side stand.

I too have some problems with the side stand on my GS. It's going through my head for quite a while.

Here some thoughts: You could have the side stand arm extended so that it touches the ground earlier at about 80 degrees extension. At this point roll back a bit until the side stand pushes the mc a bit to the right and is moved all the way to its forward position. If at that point it doesn't lean enough you could file a bit off the limiting edge on the arm near the pivot point to adjust that.

The risk: If you damage that side stand arm a new one costs ca. $160.

/Guenther

 

[Reinhard]

Do a search on the ADV Riders website as there was someone planning on making up a batch of sidestands for the GS's. I understand that a company/individual named Migsell (or something like that) also makes aftermarket stands. I got a used one from someone on the ADV site (from New Zealand no less) several months ago and it makes all the difference in the world - as I thought it would. I was a huge fan of the Browns on my /6 and knew that something similar on my 91 GS was a must, especially since the crash guard was repeatedly bent inwards as a result of some drops in the dirt. Now my bike doesn't lean over at a 45 degree angle when loaded up and I don't have to stretch to reach the stand. Try ADV.

http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4294157125_734bce2dca_b.jpg

 

[wuli959]

The R80G/S that I purchased a few years ago has a modification that might work for you. Not sure if the side stand is stock or not but the PO added a larger foot with a "L" shaped formed metal tab. The tab allows the side stand to be put down before getting off the bike. I cropped a photo to show it so the quality isn't too great. I you need better photos let me know.

 

[sdpc2]

Reinhard

Any more info on who makes that sidestand? I notice that the one in your photo mounts in a completely different place than the OEM does.

TIA

 

[Reinhard]

Any more info on who makes that sidestand? I notice that the one in your photo mounts in a completely different place than the OEM does.

TIA

Sorry, I have no idea who made it (neither did the guy I got it from either). It mounts to the rear engine mounting bolt and to the footpeg lug. I understand that these same mounting points were used by a few other aftermarket sidestand fabricators, none of whom I am aware of by name. As far as I am concerned this is what BMW should have done in the first place. Centrally located on the bike, I can extend it down without even looking at it. A very beefy unit (it kind of resembles the /2 Flanders sidestands) that inspires much more confidence, especially when the bike is fully loaded. Needless to say the original sidestand pictured is gone.
http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4037/4294157125_734bce2dca.jpg

 

[AntonLargiader]

I remember seeing some guy with a lawn mower pull cord mounted to the crash bar. He'd pull it and the sidestand would be pulled forward. It even had a Briggs & Stratton label on the handle, for that finishing touch.

Can't be too hard to make, as long as you could stand having it on your bike.

 

[From MARS]

Bob, I'm 5'7" with a 30" inseam and ride a GSPD. My technique for lowering the stand while on the bike (which I do all the time) is to move the peg out of the way with my ankle while I catch the foot of the stand with my toe and then extend it. I hold the front brake until my heel touches down. Then I ease the front brake while pushing back (extending my leg) with my heel/foot. The bike rolls back a couple of inches fully extending the stand. Its a little scary at first, but once you get used to doing it, its a very comfortable way to get the stand down and climb off.

Hope this helps keep you on these wonderful bikes. If you have any questions, just ask.
Tom

 

[NavyCWO]

Side Stand Deployment

I rigged up a cable arrangement using a bicycle brake cable. I secured one end around the lower side stand and the other near the clamps that hold the handle bars in place. On this end I put a lawnmower pull starter handle (black so it blends in). To deploy the stand, I hold the front brake in with my right hand, then push the side stand out a bit with my left foot while pulling up on the mower starter handle which pulls it all the way forward. The procedure sounds more complicated than it really is! The Mod is really pretty inexpensive. Costs about 5 or 6 bucks for everything.